One of the greatest high school players in New Orleans' rich basketball history, Kerry Kittles arrived at Villanova University during a period of transition and uncertainty, and left it as the school's all-time leading scorer.

A two time all-state guard at St. Augustine HS, Kittles led the Purple Knights to a combined record of 66-5 from 1990 to 1992. As one of the top three recruits in New Orleans along with Parade All-Americans Randy Livingston (LSU) and Duane Spencer (Georgetown), Kittles surprised local basketball fans by going out of state, accepting Rollie Massimino's offer to play at Villanova.

"I picked Villanova because it fit all of my criteria," he said. "It was a smaller institution, it was a Catholic school, its basketball games were on television and I had the opportunity to play. But the biggest factor was its graduation rate."

By April of 1992, however, times were changing on the Main Line. For only the third time since 1936, Villanova was looking for a new coach as Massimino abruptly resigned to accept a five year, $3.5 million offer at UNLV. Sources said he had unsuccessfully sought to become athletic director and place his son Tommy as the next coach, while others said he chafed at the criticism that he had sought to end the Big Five series. With a four year record of 67-61 since 1988, Massimino was out the door and Villanova hired Manhattan coach Steve Lappas on April 13. On April 14, Lappas was on a flight to New Orleans to visit Kittles and keep him committed.

Kittles' first season at Villanova was a difficult one. The Wildcats won only eight games all season, the fewest since Massimino's first season in 1973-74. Kittles averaged 10.9 points per game and was named to the Big East All Rookie team as the only Villanova representative on any of the all-conference lists, but considered transferring. Lappas needed Kittles to help rebuild the program and urged him to stay.

By his sophomore year, Kittles had positioned himself as the dominant scorer for the Wildcats. Averaging 19.7 points and 6.6 rebounds a game, Kittles scored in double figures in every game in 1993-94, lifting the Wildcats out of a 6-9 slump in late January and carrying the Cats to nine wins in its final 11 regular season games, including a 24 point effort as the Wildcats upset #3-ranked Connecticut, 64-63, and 29 points four days later at Pittsburgh. Kittles was named a first team All-Big East selection, the first Wildcat chosen since 1986. The 15-12 record wasn't enough to return to the NCAA's, but Villanova soared in the NIT, with Kittles scoring 106 points over five games as the Wildcats won its first NIT championship in a 80-73 win over Vanderbilt.

Villanova returned all five starters in 1994-95, none more valuable than Kittles. Despite losses to three top 10 teams early in the season, the Wildcats won 13 of its final 15 regular season games with Kittles leading the way. He averaged 26 points a game in a seven game stretch capped by 37 points in the Wildcats' 96-73 rout of #1-ranked UConn, and a career high 44 points on 16 of 23 shooting in a win over Boston College.

Seeded number #2 in the 1995 Big East tournament, Kittles was held to just nine points as Villanova escaped an uopset bid by #10 seed Boston College, 68-64, then he took over the Garden--29 points, six rebounds and six assists in a 90-75 semifinal win over defending champion Providence, and a 22 point, six rebound effort in the final over top seeded Connecticut. Kittles was named the tournament MVP as Villanova won its first ever Big East title, 94-78.

The Wildcats' magical season ended unexpectedly in the third overtime of a loss to #14-seed Old Dominion in the first round of the NCAA tournament. But if there were thoughts of Kittles leaving early for the NBA, he would hear none of it.

"Of course I wanted to come back this year with the great guys coming back, with the same chemistry, the right mix that I really wanted to be around," Kittles told the Los Angeles Times. "Money isn't everything in this world. I decided the money's going to be there, the NBA's going to be there, so why not come back and enjoy college for another year?"

The 1995-96 Wildcats were in the AP Top 10 all season, ranking as high as #2. Kittles led the Wildcats to 10 straight wins down the stretch while averaging over 20 points a game as the Cats were cruising at 23-3, but Kittles was grounded on Feb. 22, 1996 when he was suspended three games for the unauthorized use of a university calling card. The Wildcats dropped two of three games in that stretch, including a 70-59 loss to #3 Connecticut and a 106-68 rout at #8 Georgetown.

"He was very upset," Lappas said. "But he understood."

Kittles returned for the 1996 Big East tournament, scoring 20 in the opener versus Providence and 27 in a semifinal loss to Georgetown. He scored 20 in his final collegiate game, a 68-64 loss to Louisville in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Kerry Kittles ended his college career at Villanova as the school's all-time leader in points and steals, becoming the school's first team consensus All-America selection since Paul Arizin in 1950. One of five Big East players taken in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft, Kittles was selected seventh by the New Jersey Nets, where he played for eight seasons with a 14.1 points per game career average and set a NBA rookie record for three pointers in 1996-97. Injuries forced his retirement in 2005.

Following basketball, Kittles earned an MBA at Villanova and worked on Wall Street. He served for two seasons as an assistant basketball coach at Princeton University from 2016 to 2018.